Hair clip

ABSTRACT

A hair clip includes an upper clamping, plate having two locating blocks or hook plates located on the bottom side thereof, a lower clamping plate, a pivot pin pivotally connecting the rear end of the upper clamping plate and the rear end of the lower clamping plate together, a torsion spring mounted on the pivot pin with two opposing ends thereof respectively stopped against the upper clamping plate and the lower clamping plate to elastically hold the upper clamping plate and the lower clamping plate in a close position, and an elastic pressure member connected between the locating blocks or hook plates of upper clamping plate and suspending between the upper clamping plate and the lower clamping plate to enhance positioning stability during application of the hair clip to arrange the hair of a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to hair clips for arranging the hair, and more particularly to such a hair clip, which has an elastic pressure member suspending between the upper and lower clamping plates thereof to enhance hair clip positioning stability during application.

2. Description of the Related Art

FIG. 9 illustrates a conventional hair clip, which comprises an upper clamping plate 7 having a coupling portion 71 at its one end, a lower clamping plate 8 having a coupling portion 81 at its one end, a pivot pin 9 inserted through the coupling portion 71 of the upper clamping plate 7 and the coupling portion 81 of the lower clamping plate 8 to pivotally connected the upper clamping plate 7 and the lower clamping plate 8 together, and a torsion spring 91 mounted on the pivot pin 9 with the opposing ends thereof respectively stopped against the upper clamping plate 7 and the lower clamping plate 8 to elastically hold the upper clamping plate 7 and the lower clamping plate 8 in a close position. According to this design, the torsion spring 91 wears quickly with use to reduce its elastic potential energy. If a torsion spring with a relatively higher elastic potential energy is used in this design of hair clip, the user must apply much force to open the hair clip. On the contrary, if a torsion spring with a relatively lower elastic potential energy is used in this design of hair clip, the clamping force of the hair clip will be insufficient and the hair clip may be forced out of place or fall from the hair easily by an accident.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a hair clip, which has an elastic pressure member suspending between the upper and lower clamping plates thereof to enhance hair clip positioning stability during application.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a hair clip comprises an upper clamping plate having two locating blocks or hook plates located on the bottom side thereof, a lower clamping plate, a pivot pin pivotally connecting the rear end of the upper clamping plate and the rear end of the lower clamping plate together, a torsion spring mounted on the pivot pin with two opposing ends thereof respectively stopped against the upper clamping plate and the lower clamping plate to elastically hold the upper clamping plate and the lower clamping plate in a close position, and an elastic pressure member connected between the locating blocks or hook plates of upper clamping plate and suspending between the upper clamping plate and the lower clamping plate to enhance positioning stability during application of the hair clip to arrange the hair of a user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a hair clip in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating an open status of the hair clip.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional side view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 corresponds to FIG. 3, illustrating the hair clip closed.

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing illustrating an application status of the hair clip in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a hair clip in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the second embodiment of the present invention, illustrating an open status of the hair clip.

FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional side view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional side view of a hair clip according to the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a hair clip in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown comprising an upper clamping plate 1, a lower clamping plate 2, a pivot pin 3, a torsion spring 31, and an elastic pressure member 4.

The upper clamping plate 1 comprises a narrow elongated body 12 defining opposing top and bottom sides, a clamping surface 13 located on the bottom side of the narrow elongated body 12, two locating blocks 14 located on the bottom side of the narrow elongated body 12 at opposing front and rear sides relative to the clamping surface 13, two coupling flanges 11 bilaterally and perpendicularly extended from a rear end thereof in a parallel manner, and a pivot hole 111 located on each coupling flange 11. The clamping surface 13 can be a toothed surface or embossed surface to enhance friction relative to the hair. The lower clamping plate 2 comprises a narrow elongated body 22 defining opposing top and bottom sides, a clamping surface 23 located on the top side of the narrow elongated body 22, two coupling flanges 21 bilaterally and perpendicularly extended from a rear end thereof in a parallel manner, and a pivot hole 211 located on each coupling flange 21. The clamping surface 23 can be a toothed surface or embossed surface to enhance friction relative to the hair. The pivot pin 3 is inserted through the pivot holes 211 of the lower clamping plate 2 and the pivot holes 111 of the upper clamping plate 1 to pivotally connect the upper clamping plate 1 and the lower clamping plate 2 together. The torsion spring 31 is mounted on the pivot pin 3 with the opposing ends thereof respectively stopped against the upper clamping plate 1 and the lower clamping plate 2 to elastically hold the upper clamping plate 1 and the lower clamping plate 2 in a close position. The elastic pressure member 4 is a flexible bar suspending between the upper clamping plate 1 and the lower clamping plate 2, having two distal ends 41 thereof respectively fastened to the locating blocks 14 of the upper clamping plate 1.

Referring to FIG. 5, during application of the hair clip to arrange the hair 5, the elastic potential energy of the torsion spring 31 force the upper clamping plate 1 and the lower clamping plate 2 toward each other to clamp the hair 5, and at the same time, the hair 5 impart a pressure to the elastic pressure member 4, enhancing hair clip positioning stability. Further, the elastic pressure member 4 can be made of rubber or silicon rubber, having an embossed or coarsened non-slip surface 42 to enhance friction.

FIGS. 6-8 illustrate a hair clip in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The hair clip in accordance with this second embodiment of the present invention comprises an upper clamping plate 1, a lower clamping plate 2, a pivot pin 3, a torsion spring 31, and an elastic pressure member 6.

The upper clamping plate 1 comprises a narrow elongated body 12 defining opposing top and bottom sides, a clamping surface 13 located on the bottom side of the narrow elongated body 12, two hook plates 15 located on the bottom side of the narrow elongated body 12 at opposing front and rear sides relative to the clamping surface 13, two coupling flanges 11 bilaterally and perpendicularly extended from a rear end thereof in a parallel manner, and a pivot hole 111 located on each coupling flange 11. The clamping surface 13 can be a toothed surface or embossed surface to enhance friction relative to the hair. The lower clamping plate 2 comprises a narrow elongated body 22 defining opposing top and bottom sides, a clamping surface 23 located on the top side of the narrow elongated body 22, two coupling flanges 21 bilaterally and perpendicularly extended from a rear end thereof in a parallel manner, and a pivot hole 211 located on each coupling flange 21. The clamping surface 23 can be a toothed surface or embossed surface to enhance friction relative to the hair. The pivot pin 3 is inserted through the pivot holes 211 of the lower clamping plate 2 and the pivot holes 111 of the upper clamping plate 1 to pivotally connect the upper clamping plate 1 and the lower clamping plate 2 together. The torsion spring 31 is mounted on the pivot pin 3 with the opposing ends thereof respectively stopped against the upper clamping plate 1 and the lower clamping plate 2 to elastically hold the upper clamping plate 1 and the lower clamping plate 2 in a close position. The elastic pressure member 6 is an elastic rubber or silicon rubber band connected between the hook plates 15 of the upper clamping plate 1, defining two parallel body portions 61 suspending between the upper clamping plate 1 and the lower clamping plate 2. Further, the surface of the elastic pressure member 6 is an embossed or coarsened non-slip surface. This second embodiment achieves the same effects as the aforesaid first embodiment does.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What the invention claimed is:
 1. A hair clip comprising: an upper clamping plate comprising a narrow elongated body defining opposing top and bottom sides, a clamping surface located on the bottom side of the narrow elongated body of said upper clamping plate, two locating blocks located on the bottom side of the narrow elongated body of said upper clamping plate at opposing front and rear sides relative to said clamping surface, two coupling flanges bilaterally and perpendicularly extended from a rear end thereof in a parallel manner, and a pivot hole located on each coupling flange of said upper clamping plate; a lower clamping plate comprising a narrow elongated body defining opposing top and bottom sides, a clamping surface located on the top side of the narrow elongated body of said lower clamping plate, two coupling flanges bilaterally and perpendicularly extended from a rear end thereof in a parallel manner, and a pivot hole located on each coupling flange of said lower clamping plate; a pivot pin inserted through the pivot holes of said lower clamping plate and the pivot holes of said upper clamping plate to pivotally connect said upper clamping plate and said lower clamping plate together; a torsion spring mounted on said pivot pin and having two opposing ends thereof respectively stopped against said upper clamping plate and said lower clamping plate to elastically hold said upper clamping plate and said lower clamping plate in a close position; and an elastic pressure member suspending between said upper clamping plate and said lower clamping plate, said elastic pressure member comprising two distal ends respectively fastened to said locating blocks of said upper clamping plate.
 2. The hair clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elastic pressure member is selected from the group of rubber and silicon rubber.
 3. The hair clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elastic pressure member comprises a coarsened non-slip surface.
 4. A hair clip comprising: an upper clamping plate comprising a narrow elongated body defining opposing top and bottom sides, a clamping surface located on the bottom side of the narrow elongated body of said upper clamping plate, two hook plates located on the bottom side of the narrow elongated body of said upper clamping plate at opposing front and rear sides relative to said clamping surface, two coupling flanges bilaterally and perpendicularly extended from a rear end thereof in a parallel manner, and a pivot hole located on each coupling flange of said upper clamping plate; a lower clamping plate comprising a narrow elongated body defining opposing top and bottom sides, a clamping surface located on the top side of the narrow elongated body of said lower clamping plate, two coupling flanges bilaterally and perpendicularly extended from a rear end thereof in a parallel manner, and a pivot hole located on each coupling flange of said lower clamping plate; a pivot pin inserted through the pivot holes of said lower clamping plate and the pivot holes of said upper clamping plate to pivotally connect said upper clamping plate and said lower clamping plate together; a torsion spring mounted on said pivot pin and having two opposing ends thereof respectively stopped against. said upper clamping plate and said lower clamping plate to elastically hold said upper clamping plate and said lower clamping plate in a close position; and an elastic pressure member being an elastic band coupled between said hook plates of said upper clamping plate and suspending between said upper clamping plate and said lower clamping plate.
 5. The hair clip as claimed in claim 4, wherein said elastic pressure member is selected from the group of rubber and silicon rubber.
 6. The hair clip as claimed in claim 4, wherein said elastic pressure member comprises a coarsened non-slip surface. 